摘要:
An ink jet printer includes an ink feed apparatus. The ink feed apparatus includes an ink feed channel for conducting discrete substantially solid ink sticks along a feed channel path, a plurality of ink sticks in the ink feed channel, each of the ink sticks comprising an ink stick body having an ink stick sensing feature on an external surface of the ink stick body that is located between a first end and a second end of the ink stick body, and each of the ink stick bodies has substantially the same mass as the other ink stick bodies in the plurality, a detector positioned at a fixed position proximate the ink feed channel and configured to be triggered by an ink stick sensing feature on an ink stick in the ink feed channel as the ink stick moves along the ink feed path past the detector, and a counter configured to accumulate the number of times the detector is triggered.
摘要:
A circuit for conveying signals between one or more ink level sensors and a circuit includes a substrate having a circuit end, a sensor end, and an elongated body extending therebetween. The sensor end includes a bottom layer in which the first signal trace is routed and a top layer in which the second and third signal traces are routed. The sensor end includes a first, a second, and a third connector each extending through the top and the bottom layers that are electrically connected to a first signal trace, a second signal trace, and a third signal trace, respectively, in the substrate. The first connector, the second connector, and the third connector are configured for electrical connection to a first probe, a second probe, and a third probe, respectively, of the level sensor. A first ground trace is positioned in the sensor end that includes a first continuous guard ring in the top layer completely surrounding and spaced from the first connector, and a first segmented guard ring in the bottom layer including a plurality of segments that are each electrically connected to the first continuous guard ring and being spaced from the other segments in the first segmented guard ring. The first signal trace is routed in the bottom layer to the first connector via a space between the segments of the first segmented guard ring.
摘要:
An ink stick for a phase change ink jet printer is provided. The ink stick includes a first ink stick body segment having a proximal portion and a distal portion, a second ink stick body segment having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and one or more flexible strand portions. The strand portion is formed integrally with the first ink stick body segment and the second ink stick body segment, and connects the proximal portion of the first ink stick body segment and the proximal portion of the second ink stick body segment. The strand portion flexes to permit variation in the distance between the distal portion of the first ink stick body segment and the distal portion of the second ink stick body segment.
摘要:
A solid ink feed system for a phase change ink imaging device includes an ink loader having an insertion area and a melt area. A collapsible support in the ink loader has a first end attached adjacent the melt area and a second end configured to receive at least one ink stick inserted into the ink loader at the insertion area. The first and second ends are connected by a collapsible body configured to support the at least one ink stick and to vary in length corresponding to the distance of the least one ink stick from the melt area of the ink loader.
摘要:
A printing device has an image receptor adapted to have an image formed thereon. The printing device also includes a transfer roller and a motor. A transfer roller load mechanism moves the transfer roller into contact with the image receptor in response to the motor output. A controller manipulates the motor in conjunction with a feedback signal from a load detector and regulates the load of the transfer roller.
摘要:
A circuit enables current to be measured in at least two motor leads of a three-phase motor being supplied by a power source generating a chopped sinusoidal waveform for the motor leads. The circuit includes a DC power supply having a pair of output terminals, a current sense transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding being connected at one end to one output terminal of the DC power supply, an H-bridge driver connected to another end of the primary winding and being connected to leads of a three-phase motor to drive each lead to a voltage obtained from the DC power supply through the primary winding, a regulating circuit for identifying the voltage to which each lead is to be driven and for controlling switches within the H-bridge circuit to drive each lead to an identified voltage, and a single current sense resistor connected to the secondary winding of the current sense transformer, the current sense resistor generating a voltage that corresponds to the current being used to drive the three-phase motor.
摘要:
An ink jet printer includes an ink supply system and a printhead with nozzles for ejecting ink drops. The printer determines the average size of the ejected ink drops by comparing the number of ink drops ejected in a predetermined time with the quantity of ink delivered through the printers ink supply system during that time. If the determined average ink drop size does not match predetermined ink drop size criteria, the printer adjusts the activation signals for the ink jet nozzles to alter the ink drop size. A solid ink printer determines the quantity of ink delivered through the ink supply system by counting the number of whole or partial ink sticks that pass a predetermined point in the ink supply system. The counter detects a sensing element formed on an external surface of the ink stick. Exemplary detectors include a mechanical arm, or a thermistor to detect a change in the printer melt plate temperature due to a change in the cross sectional area of an ink stick being melted.
摘要:
Detecting a multi-pick in a nip of a media feed mechanism, includes determining a limit of a property of a media feed mechanism that is related to the kinetic properties of one or more rollers that form a nip; monitoring the property of the media feed mechanism; determining a maximum value of the of the monitored property; comparing the maximum value to the limit; and determining, if the maximum value exceeds the operational limit, that a multi-pick has occurred.
摘要:
An ink stick for a phase change ink jet printer is provided. The ink stick comprises a first ink stick body segment having a proximal portion and a distal portion, a second ink stick body segment having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and one or more flexible strand portions. The strand portion is formed integrally with the first ink stick body segment and the second ink stick body segment, and connects the proximal portion of the first ink stick body segment and the proximal portion of the second ink stick body segment. The strand portion flexes to permit variation in the distance between the distal portion of the first ink stick body segment and the distal portion of the second ink stick body segment.
摘要:
An ink jet printer includes an ink supply system and a printhead with nozzles for ejecting ink drops. The printer determines the average size of the ejected ink drops by comparing the number of ink drops ejected in a predetermined time with the quantity of ink delivered through the printers ink supply system during that time. If the determined average ink drop size does not match predetermined ink drop size criteria, the printer adjusts the activation signals for the ink jet nozzles to alter the ink drop size. A solid ink printer determines the quantity of ink delivered through the ink supply system by counting the number of whole or partial ink sticks that pass a predetermined point in the ink supply system. The counter detects a sensing element formed on an external surface of the ink stick. Exemplary detectors include a mechanical arm, or a thermistor to detect a change in the printer melt plate temperature due to a change in the cross sectional area of an ink stick being melted.